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Lawson : The Kingis Quair 305
survived ; at Surat, it is said that ' we could hardly see anie livinge persons,
. . . and at the corners of the streets the dead laye 20 together,' while the
total mortality in this place was estimated at 30,000. After the famine
there came great floods, and * the faire fields are all drowned, and the fruits
of the earth cleane washed away with these waters.'
Friction with the Portuguese continued, and there is a vivid picture of a
fight at Swally in 1630, which is of interest, since previous English victories
had been at sea. On this occasion the Portuguese landed and demonstrated
against the English encampment, covered by the fire from their ships. The
English, <
being stirred up to a high measure of furie by the howerly
'
vexations and braveing of the enemye,' attacked ; and, such was the
obstinate rage of our people,' that the Portuguese gave ground, while the
victors pursued them to within pistol shot of their frigates.
The still Company
servants in India and
found it difficult
to check private
to maintain order amongst its
trade. Complaints were made
against John Willoughby that he had caused the Company great expense
'
for want of discreete compleing with the king's gunner about saltpeter,'
also for < his breaking open the tarras aloft, where below in a roome the two
padres luggage was housed and his ransacking all these, to the Company
and our nacion's great dishonour.'
The factors were in the habit of writing to the office at London with
considerable force and freedom. They mention, on one occasion, that it
was common report that the officials at Surat could not trade as they
wished, 'for feare of giving discontent to that rogue, their governor.'
Again there are frequent references to the advantage gained by the Dutch
and Portuguese in having forts for the protection of their servants ; if the
English were similarly protected l we should make all these parts stand in
awe of us and bring them almost to what condicions of trade we would,
and not suffer ourselves to be thus grosly abused and insulted over by these
villaines.' W. R. SCOTT.
THE KINGIS QUAIR AND THE QUARE OF JELUSY. Edited, with Introduc-
tion, Notes, Appendix, and Glossary, by Alexander Lawson, Berry
Professor of English Literature in the University of St. Andrews.
Pp. xcv, 169. With Illustrations. Demy 8vo. London : A. & C.
Black. 1910. 6s. nett.
PROFESSOR LAWSON'S book is a new and welcome proof of the revived
interest in earlier Scottish literature which is evincing itself at present in
various movements. The book contains the texts of the *
Kingis Quair '
and the '
Quare of Jelusy,' a critical introduction dealing with controversial
questions, full and scholarly notes, and a glossary.
The text of the *
Kingis Quair '
has been the subject of careful investigation,
and the editor presents it in two versions, a method invaluable to
scholars. One of these is as in the MS., the other with the emendations
suggested by himself, or adopted from other scholars. As good examples of
the former, we might note the reading 'scele' (skill)
for 'scole' in
stanza 7, and 'byndand' for 'bynd and' in stanza 107.